COLUMN: Competing against teammates so I can compete with them

After practice recently, my coach at Valparaiso came up and talked to me about something I have thought a little about but not really reminded myself of since I've been at school.

Being at this level of competition is something that is much different for me. I'm not used to being somewhere that I actually have to compete for a spot on the "traveling team" or being somewhere that I'm not in the top for the players in this area.

This level requires much more dedication than being in high school and much more strength not only in the physical aspect of the game but the mental as well.

I have to keep in mind that while I am out at a tournament, there are six other girls on the team who aren't there that are just as good and will be looking to get that spot next time. I'm competing with 11 girls for five spots before every tournament knowing that one wrong move in qualifying could be their signal to move up and take that position ... something I have never had to worry about before.

It's really good for the team, in my opinion, to have this healthy competition; I even sort of think it is the coach's subtle mind game to help us get better since he knows everyone wants to go.

My dad has always told me, "the better you get, the less you win." The bigger the program, the better the team. The bigger the tournaments, the better the field.

I have to realize that I am at a level that is either going to make or break my game. I'm either going to succumb to the talents of others and let not being at the top ruin me, or I'm going to find a way to work myself back to the top and back into that position of being the best that I used to hold.

It's going to take a lot of practice, but as my dad also always tells me, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

He knows I respond well to quotes.

My dad has always found a way of reiterating the ones that will have the most impact on my life and where I go with golf.

Being at college, I have been told by the coaches that I need to really zone in, but I also need to let things go. It's really hard to imagine doing both at the same time, but it makes sense.

To golf at an elite level, you have to forget about the past if you ever want to move forward ... the longer you dwell on one shot, the longer it will be until you make a good one.

Another thing that I've had to think about while playing for a competitive school is the fact that there is a team to back me if I have a bad day and a team for me to help pick up if someone else is having a bad day.

This is the best part about collegiate golf to me ... knowing that you have a team that is full of good players who are out there basically making up for your mistakes. At the same time though, this idea adds a lot of pressure.

You don't want to be the one to let a team down and this is going to help on those occasions that you have a bad hole because you know that if you throw in the towel on your round, you aren't only quitting on yourself but you are quitting on a whole team.

I'm no expert, yet, but I can tell you that they will not like that one bit.

Most of my columns I have tried to prove a point or teach something that will help you readers out on the course, and I understand that this may not help many of the readers out.

But if you take anything out of this one, it should be to think of your golf game in a different way. Pretend you are playing for a team (if you play in a lot of choose-ups then you should definitely do this for the team you're with) and play as if your score is most crucial.

Don't do this in a way that will psych you out, but in a way that you want to help others out. Don't let one bad shot or hole kill the round because there are 17 other holes on the course that you can play and carry your weight for the "team."

I have found that it is a lot easier to help others than it is to help yourself. The mind works in mysterious ways but it is much easier to keep in mind that your mistakes aren't only going to affect you but others close to you as well.